Apparatus for the manufacture of gas



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

.J. M. ROSE. APPARATUS POR THE MANUPAGTURB 0F GAS.

Patented May 27, 189,0.

..HHIIIL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. M. .RosuE. APPARATUS BOR THE MAAUIPAGIURE 0F GAS.

IaJTA-mted May 27, 1890.

ma norms persas no., morn-umu.. msmafon. n. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(N o Model.)

VJ M ROSE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE'OP GAS.

No. 428,955. Patented May 27, 1890.

ycarried on, and the cupola-generator in which` erator under the chamber and a vertical pipe PATENT` EEIcE.

JAMES M. ROSE, OF ALLEGHENWY, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE M SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ANUFACTU RE OF GAS.

Patent No. 428,955, dated May 27, 1890.

Application tiled March 14, 188).Y Serial No. 303,312. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. ROSE, a resident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for generating gas, its special object being to provide a compact apparatus in which practically all the pipes or passages, except those for carrying away the gas, are so inclosed as to be maintained at a high heat during the gas-making operation, and at the same time the gases generated may be subjected to different treatments; and, further, gases generated in different connecting-chambers, and a large volume 0f gas for fuel or other purposes formed therein, as well as to provide apparatus in which, if desired, a continuous coking operation may be the gases are formed may be supplied with the coke as it is formed.

To these ends my invention consists, `geuerally stated, in a gas-making apparatus having a cupola-generator and a vertical chamber above and communicating therewith, and provided with a pipe or cylinder supported at the base of the vertical cylinder, and extending up within and opening at the upper end of the chamber, this chamber being filled with checker-work or loose refractory material around the pipe, whereby in such construction the said chamber and cylinder may be highly heated, and gases generated or treated therein, and the gases generated may pass into the cupola-generator or other exit.

It also consists in combining with two cnpola-generators a chamber extending above and communicating at the base with one such cupola-generator, and communicating with a second cupola-generator under the chamber through a vertical pipe.

It also consists in placing this chamber at the side of and extending above the cupolagenerator and providing a second cupola-genor cylinder leading directly from the upper part of the second cupola-generator through and opening into the upper end of the chamber, whereby, when making gases, the gases formed in the one cupola-generator may pass first into said upper chamber and to the upper end thereof, and thence downwardly through said piperor cylinderiuto the second generator, and upon the reversal of the current the gases formed in the second generator may pass therefrom upwardly through said vert-ical pipe or passage and downwardly through the upper chamber and thence into the first generator, and oil or other hydrocarbons may be admitted at the top of the cylinder and pass downwardly through the same, any of the heavier portions not decomposed in the cylinder being broken `up by the heated carbon in the lower generator, onto which they will descend, a compact apparatus suitable for forming fuel or other gases being obtained and the passages from one chamber to the other being protected from the atmosphere, so that the rapid cooling of the gas passing through the same is prevented, while at the same time the said vertical pipe or passage may be maintained at a high heat, which is required in certain processes of generating gases, as will be hereinafter described. It also consists in other improvements, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

To enable others, skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is alongitudinal section of my improved gas-making apparatus on the line @c fr, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line y y, Fig. l.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the apparatus shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 I generally prefer to employ the cupola-generators A B C and two upper treating-chambers D E, though, if desired, a greater or less number of thesame may be employed, my invention being practically shown where there are two generators and the one upper treating-chamber, as will be apparent on examination of the drawings.

The cupola-generators are supported at different heights or benches shown, the generator A being supported on the foundation A', the generator B on the foundation B', while IOO the generator 3 is generally level with the base of the apparatus, the foundations B A raising the other generators to the proper heights. The generator A is provided with the grate-bars a, the air-entrance a', steamentrance a, below the grate-bars, and the feeding-port or opening a. It has also the eduction-pipe F leading therefrom and controlled by the valve f and opening into the pipe G leading to the hydraulic main Il.

Adjoining the generator A at one side thereof and above the generator B is the vertical chamber D, this chamber being supported in suitable manner by the generator l5 and by suitable pillars, if necessary, and extending out from the floor or base of the chamber D and eo m munieatin g with the upper end of the generator A is the horizontal passage d, this passage preferably extending for the width of the two chambers, so as to give afree passage between the same for the gases flowing either from the generator into the chambers or in the opposite direction.

Extending from the upper end of the cupola-generator B, through the top wall thereof and the bottom wall of the chamber D, is the vertical pipe or cylinder K, this pipe or cylinder being formed of an ordinary fitting K suitably lined between the generator land 4chamber D, and within said chamber D being preferably formed of lengths or sections of terra-cotta or like pipe, which will withstand the high heat to which it may be subjected, though metal pipe may in some cases be employed. This terra-cotta pipe is supported on the floor d of the chamber D and extends up to the upper end of said chamber, preferably terminating a short distance below the same, so as to give a free passage of the gases from said chamber to the pipe or in the` opposite direction, but in some cases-- such as in the apparatus described in au application filed by me of even date herewith, SerialNo. SOSM-exten dingen tirel y through the chamber.

XVithin the chamber D, in the part not occupied by the pipe K, I generally arrange an arch, as at (Z2, for supporting a mass of loose broken lire-brick, fire-clay balls, or like refract-ory materials, which lill the remaining part of said chamber up to about level with the top of the pipe l( or up to about the line d3. This refractorymaterial may also be supported in any other suitable way, and, if de sired, maybe built up in the form of checkerwork, and it provides a mass of material having intereommunicating interstices, through which the gases may pass.

For the purposes of the processes of gasmaking preferably carried out in the apparatus I generally employ an air-entrance g at the base of the chamber D, and the hydrocarbon or steam and hydrocarbon entrance or injector 71, at the other end thereof, this injector or pipe being in the top wall above the cylinder K in such position as to introduce the hydrocarbons into the upper end of the cylinder,

and I also provide a like hydrocarbon-hij ector 71, above the refractory material surrounding the cylinder to introduce hydrocarbons into the mass of refractory material surrounding it, or both, as may be desired. I generally employ within the cylinder K another body of refractory material extending part way or entirely to the top thereof, such material being composed of fire-clay balls or broken firebrick or like material, as at C.

To provide access to the space within the chamber D below the arch d, I form the door or port o' in the side wall of the chamber.

The connections with the cupola-generatorll are the sameas those described as to thecupolagenerator A, except that when three cupolagenerators are employed, as shown, it has no eduction-pipe communicating therewith, and, further, that the feeding-port thereof is formed at one side of the top wall, where it is not covered bythe chamberD, and the connections of the cupola-generator C are the same as those of the cupola-generator A, except as to the position of the feeding-port c, the eduction-pipe Il communicating with said generator C above the grate-bars and leading to the hydraulic main,said eduction-pipe being controlled by the valve I. The construction and connections of the upper chamber E are the same as the upper chamber D, and said chamber E communicates with the cupolagenerator I3 by the like passage d, and a pipe or cylinder M, similar to the cylinder K, leads from the upper end of the cupola-generator C and extends up within said chamber E, as above described.

The eduction-pipes above referred to communicate with the hydraulic main ll, from which a pipe or pipes, as at N, leads either to a suitable storage-tank orto the supplymain, as may be found necessary. If desired, two or more sets of these gas-making apparatus may be arranged around the same hydraulic main, as shown in Fig. 2, a compact gas-making plant suitable for the generation of a large volume of fuel or other gas being thus provided.

In making gas in the apparatus above described according to the processes preferred by me the cupola-generators are filled with coal, coke, or other suitable carbon, and the relief-valves of the several upper chambers are opened, the fuel ignited, and the air-blast turned on to the several generators, the coke being raised by said blast to a high heat, while the products of combustion pass upwardly, passing through the upper chambers D E and through the cylinders K M in the said chambers, air being fed to the products of combustion as they enter the chambers D E through pipes j), so as to cause the burning of said products within said chambers, so that the refractory material therein is raised to a high heat, and the cylinders K M extending up through them are also heated by radiation and by the passage of the products through the same, as above stated.

ICO

ITO

Vhen the apparatus is properly heated, all the relief-Valves are closed and the eductionpipe L from the generator C is opened. The air-blast is then continued through the generators A B, and in passing through the mass of carbon in the generator A a producer-gas is formed which passes upwardly through the horizontal passage d into the upper chamber D, and thence upwardly through the refractory material therein, and at the same time a suitable liquid hydrocarbon-such as tar or Lima oil-is fed into the upper end of said chamber into the refractory material, and as it descends through the same it is vaporized by the heat of the refractory material, the heavier portions of the liquid hydrocarbon descending against the current of the gases and into the more highly-heated refractory material, so that a greater portion thereof is vaporized thereby and the gases formed more thoroughly intermingled therewith. Vhen the gases reachV the upper end of said chamber, they come in contact with the steam admitted into said chamber and then pass downwardly through the cylinder K and enter the upper end of the cupola-generator B, in which a like body of producer or generator gas is being formed and the gases are interminglcd in the upper part of the chamber and pass over through the passage dinto the chamber E. At the base of said chamber alimited quantity of air is generally admitted through the pipe p, as described in an application for patent filed by me October 17,1888, Serial No. 282,286, the oxygen of. the air uniting with the hydrogen of the hydrocarbons passing over and setting free a corresponding body of carbon to enrich the gas, as fully described in said application. The gases then pass upwardly through the interstices within the body of refractory material in the chambcr E, steam and hydrocarbon being admitted to said chamber in the same way as described in the chamber D, and the gases then pass downwardly through the pipe or cylinder M into the cupola-generator C, and thence downwardly through the body of incandescent carbon therein to the eduction-pipe, and thence to the hydraulic main. In passing through the highly-heated refractory material within the chambers D E, either around or within the cylinders K M, the gases generated are properly fixed and brought to a high heat, and in passing finally through the body of incandescent carbon a fixed and permanent gas vis obtained, and any carbonio acid formed is This is continued untilV generator C. At the same time Lima oil and steam are admitted at the upper ends of the cylinders K M through the injectors n and pass downwardly through the same, and as the gas formed in the generator C passes upwardly through said pipe-cylinder M, leading therefrom, the oil descends against the currents of gases, the lighter hydrocarbons being quickly freed therefrom and carried off by the gases, while the heavier portions gradually descend therein, either around the refractory material within the pipe, or, when such material is not employed, they descend through the pipe against the. upward current ot' gases into a more highly-heated part of the cylinder, and finally any heavyhydrocarbons which are not vaporized come in contact with the hi ghly-hcated carbon in said generator, and are there broken upby the disassociation of the hydrogen and carbon, these gases being carried off bythe gases formed from the coal. At the same time a limited quantity of air is admitted in the upper end of the generator C through the pipe c, which unites with the hydrogen, freeing the carbon, as above referred to, and as fully described in said application, Serial No. 282,286. All the gases so formed pass downwardly through the chamber E through the intercommunicating interstices of the heated refractory material contained therein, said gases taking up further portions of the hydrocarbons from the refractory material where it is coated therewith, and enter the upper part of the generator B, and at the same time steam is admitted at the lower end of said chamber and passing up through the same forms water-gas, which unites with the gases formed as above described, and these IOO combined gases pass upwardly through the pipe K in the chamber D, into which the oil is sprayed, as before described, and descends against the upper current of the gases in the heavier portions which are not vaporized, coming in contact with the heated carbon in the generator B, and being broken up by the disassociation of the hydrogen and carbon. The gases then pass downwardlythrough the heated refractory material in the chamberD into the chamberA, and downwardly through the mass of incandescent carbon therein to the eduction-pipe F, and thence to the storage-tank. The gases are generated and passing through the apparatus, as above described,'until the masses of carbon in the generators A B are so lowered in temperature as to cease to perform their desired functions, and the mass of carbon in t-he generator C is raised to a high heat, when the apparatus is again reversed and operated as described.

NVhen an apparatus composed of only the two generators and one chamber-such as the generators A B and chamber D-is employed, the operation is substantially the same, eX'- cept that no vwater-gas is formed such as described in the chamber B in the process above set forth, the course of the gases being from the generator A to the chamber D, thence through the pipe K to the generator B, and through the incandescent carbon therein to the ednetion-pipe L, which then communicates with said chamber; and on the reversal of the apparatus the currentof gases being from the generator B, through the pipe 1x', through the chamber D, and thenoe through the generator A to the eduction-pipe. In some eases also the eylinderwithin the upper chamber may oe closed at the hase or have no tine or passage leading from its base, and may he used as a means for generating gas, such as by the injeetion of oil into the same through the injector 71,7 while the cylinder is maintained in a highly-heated condition by the surrounding refractory material.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A gasmaking apparatus having a eupolagenerator and a vertical chamber above and Communicating therewith, said Chamber being` provided with a pipe or Cylinder supported at the base thereof and extending up wit-hin and opening at the upper end of the chamber, and said chamber being filled with checker-work or loose Vrefractory material around said pipe, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A gas-making apparatus having a cupolagenerator and a vertical chamber extending above the generator, a passage leading from the upper end of the cupola-generator into the lower end of said chamber, anothereu polagenerator under said chamber, and a vertical pipe or passage leading up from thevseeond generator to the upper end of the chamber, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The gas-making apparatus herein described, having the three cupola-generators A B O, the upper chamber D, communicating with lthe generator A and provided with a pipe K,eo1n1nunieating with the generator B, the upper chamber E, communicating with the generator B and having a pipe M, coinmunicating with the chamber U, Substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES M. ROSE, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES M. ROSE.

Witnesses:

WM. I?. MERCER, E. P. NEWLIN. 

